GUL: "OPENING ISTANBUL'S TAKSIM SQUARE TO MAY 1 OBSERVATIONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED"
President Abdullah Gul said union requests for permission to stage May 1 demonstrations in Istanbul's Taksim Square should be considered, reported Suleyman Celebi, the head of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), yesterday, after visiting the president. "He evaluated our requests objectively," added Celebi. Representatives of the Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK) and Turkish Doctors' Association (TTB), Turkish Union of Engineers' and Architects' Chambers (TMMOB) head Mehmet Soganci, and Celebi met with Gul for an hour to discuss possible May Day celebrations in Taksim. /Hurriyet Daily News/
GUL DUE IN CZECH REPUBLIC TODAY
President Abdullah Gul is set to visit the Czech Republic today at the invitation of his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency. /Today's Zaman/
MGK CALLS FOR IMPARTIAL, SCHOLARLY STUDY OF 1915 INCIDENTS
The National Security Council (MGK), chaired by President Abdullah Gul convened yesterday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. Issues such as talks towards normalized relations with Armenia and Turkey's important ties with Azerbaijan were high on the agenda of the meeting, along with recent developments in Iraq, the security of energy lines, and Afghanistan. Referring to US President Barack Obama's recent message on the so-called Armenian "genocide" claims, a MGK statement issued afterwards said the joint history of the Turkish and Armenian nations should be studied through objective, scholarly methods supported by indisputable evidence and documentation and free of all preconceptions. It also referred to Turkey's proposed joint historical commission to thoroughly and objectively investigate the incidents of 1915. During the meeting, issues concerning Turkey's security and its possible additional contributions to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan were also discussed, the statement said, adding that Turkey's firm determination to continue the fight against terrorism within the framework of democracy and the rule of law was stressed. "We evaluated our relations with Iraq and discussed in detail the fight against terrorist attacks coming from northern Iraq," said the statement. "The issue of Turkey's energy needs was discussed from political, strategic and diplomatic perspectives. We welcome with pleasure the recent early elections in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and their peaceful conduct." In related news, during a meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Turkey gave a green light to Armenia's participation in a BSEC highway project. The project aims to connect the group's 12 member countries to each other by one continuous road. Member countries with no coastline along the Black Sea such as Greece, Serbia, Albania, Azerbaijan and Armenia would establish connections with the main route of the planned highway through their nearest neighbors. Under this project, a move exempting truck drivers using the highway from visa requirements is also expected. /Sabah-Aksam/
SLAIN POLICE OFFICER LAID TO REST IN ISTANBUL
The Istanbul Police Department yesterday held a memorial service for senior officer Semih Balaban, who was killed during an operation on Monday against a suspected terrorist hideout in Bostanci. Attending the service were Balaban's family, State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler, Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah, and many other administrative and military officials. Balaban was buried after funeral prayers at Istanbul's Fatih Mosque. /Star/
MHP'S BAHCELI CRITICIZES ERDOGAN
Speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday, opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that "Turkey is not a country that can be flattered and then fooled," reacting against US President Barack Obama's recent message on the Armenian "genocide" allegations. Calling Erdogan's comments unworthy, he added, "We will face new fiascoes on national issues if this mentality continues." /Aksam/
BAYKAL: "THE AK PARTY'S MISGUIDED POLICIES HAVE HURT TURKISH-AZERI TIES"
The misguided policies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) have harmed relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, charged main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal yesterday. Speaking at his party's parliamentary group meeting, Baykal said he wanted to apologize to Azerbaijanis on behalf of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "The AK Party is here today, but it may not be here tomorrow," he said. "But Turkey is always on the side of Azeris." Touching on US President Barack Obama's statement on the so-called Armenian "genocide" allegations, he said, "Even if the president and prime minister haven't had a chance to explain the Armenian issue to Obama, they could have presented American professor Justin McCarthy's book to him," referring to an outspoken scholarly critic of the genocide claims. /Aksam/
TURKEY TAKING COMMAND OF ANTI-PIRATE FORCE IN GULF OF ADEN
South Task Group Commander Gen. Erdem Caner Bener will assume command of an anti-pirate force in the Gulf of Aden from US Gen. Michelle Howard at a handover ceremony in Bahrain's Manama Harbor on Sunday. Turkey is expected to command the force until August 15. /Cumhuriyet/
AZERBAIJAN'S ALIYEV: "TALKS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA SHOULD INCLUDE NAGORNO-KARABAKH"
If the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is not included in a road map towards normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, Azerbaijan will pursue a policy based on its own interests, said Azeri President Ilham Aliyev yesterday. Speaking to reporters in Brussels after meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Aliyev said that normalized relations between Ankara and Yerevan without any move to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh issue would harm Azerbaijan's national interests. He also said that Azerbaijan would reconsider the price of its natural gas exports to Turkey, as a previous agreement between the two countries expired a year ago. In related news, Aliyev will meet with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan in Prague next week to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh under the mediation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk group. /Sabah/
EUROPEAN PROPERTY RULING DEALS HEAVY BLOW TO TRNC
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled yesterday that a British couple ordered by a Greek Cypriot court to demolish their vacation house in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is bound by the ruling, a move expected to deal a heavy blow to the TRNC real estate sector. The couple, David and Linda Orams, has been in a legal battle since 2004, when a Greek Cypriot court said the house they built near Kyrenia must be demolished as it was built on land owned by a Greek Cypriot prior to 1974. The Nicosia court ordered the couple to tear down the house and pay rent to the Greek Cypriot land owner, Meletis Apostolides, for the period they occupied the property. The ECJ said yesterday that this ruling must be recognized and enforced in Britain because both Greek Cyprus and Britain are members of the European Union. The court said the ruling is binding even though EU laws are not applicable in the TRNC. Hasan Ercakica, spokesman for TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat, said the ruling would have negative consequences, including on ongoing Cyprus talks. Talat will meet with representatives of TRNC political parties to assess the court's ruling today. /Today's Zaman/
THREE SECURITY GAPS
BY HIKMET BILA (VATAN)
Columnist Hikmet Bila comments on Turkey's security and foreign policies. A summary of his column is as follows:
"The Turkish Republic was established through a War of Independence on the ashes of an empire which had disintegrated and been invaded. Our savior and founder drew two basic lines: first, to put the country's borders under international guarantee and protect them forever, and second, to establish a modern, civilized order which aims at a prosperous life. Concessions on the first goal were unthinkable. Everything was done to prevent a country which has suffered innumerable territorial losses throughout history and which was facing shrinking borders from facing similar dangers. The defense mechanism which was settled under both republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and second President Ismet Inonu was based on two important pillars: a large, strong army, along with measures to head off possible attacks on the country's existence and security outside the border.
Among the historical examples of this basic understanding of security were the friendship, cooperation and non-aggression agreements Ataturk made with our neighbors following the War of Independence and such alliances as the Balkan Pact and the Baghdad Pact. Everybody was exhausted by the wars, which were the greatest obstacles to improvement, development, prosperity and civilization. A strong defense structure was necessary, as well as guaranteeing the borders through agreements and alliances without any need for war. This has been the situation until recently. But what about now?
Today the current situation is a follows: The Turkish Republic has to overcome threats to its existence from at least three fronts inside its political and physical borders. A large attack using a terrorist group as a battering ram is being made from our southeastern borders, and now Turkey is trying to stop this attack not from the other side of the border, but from this side. The situation is the same on Cyprus. Turkey has become the losing side in its rightful cause, and now even the security of its southern Mediterranean borders should be ensured at its harbors.
As a result of initiatives done with such slogans as 'a historical problem is being solved' and 'normalization,' now a gap is arising in the northeastern side of the country. If this s continues, no one should be surprised to see Turkey's eastern provinces become a subject of international debate. This column is meant to present the current situation in order to spur discussion of the past and present structure of our foreign policies and security."